ACU Sep-2018_Final Artwork LR

FEATURE
he rise of the middle class in
TIndia has paved the way for a
b o o m i n t h e p e t c a re
industry with the Pet Food Manufacturers
Association estimating the
country's pet population at over 54
million this year.
Of the figure, about 8.5 million are
dogs and some 8 million are cats. And
Indians have the propensity to spoil
their four legged friends in terms of
food or wellness needs, spurring
more growth to the Indian pet market
valued at over US$800 million in
2012. In 2016, cat and dog food alone
generated sales of more than US$102
million.
B u t w h i l e t h e re h a v e b e e n
significant improvements on how
pets are treated in India, many pet
owners still encounter challenges in
transporting them across the country
with very limited options available.
Limited options
“I have to carry my cat in Air India's
flight. His weight is 4 kg and I am
assuming that the crate will be 2-3 kg.
So, will they allow me to take my pet
in the cabin as the weight will be over
5 kg. Should I approach Air India
cargo for that? Please guide me.”
“Hi. I have a Lhasa Apso puppy
weighing 3 kg and I want to take her
to Delhi from Bangalore. What is the
most feasible option? I don't want to
send in cargo as she is too small and I
am not sure about air pressure and
temperature.”
“Hi! I am coming on transfer of
residency from Hong Kong and I want
to bring my 3 year old dog, can I do
the paperwork myself or should I get
to a pet relocation service? Which
airlines are pet-friendly?”
Questions like these and many
more pop up often on forums, not
just in India but the world over, with
no airline exclusively flying pets.
There was once in Florida known as
Pet Airways but its operation was
short lived—only two years. The
s a m e c o m pa n y i s re p o r t e d l y
planning to come back via a crowdsourced
funding.
Air Horse One is another freight
carrier tailored for animals but it only
specializes on carrying horses across
the United States using a leased
Boeing 727-200 aircraft.
Clearances for India
Unlike in the West, where pet travel
by air is a lot more common, in India it
exists but one runs into unknown
waters for clearances and that is a big
challenge in itself. First the
clearances and the next worrisome
part is – whether the pet will be able
to take air travel and the answer to
that is anybody's guess.
Here are some basic guidelines for
those wanting to relocate their pets
into India from different overseas
locations.
Indian authorities permit up to two
dogs and cats per person to enter the
country with their owners on transfer
of residency. Other Indian citizens on
a short visit to India can obtain a
license from the Director General of
Foreign Trade (DGFT) to bring their
pet to India as long as their pet
departs with them. Dogs are not
permitted to enter India for breeding
or commercial purposes.
Microchips for pets
There are several rules and
regulations that pet owners have to
follow to bring their pets into India.
First the pet should be microchipped
w i t h a n I S O 1 1 7 8 4 / 1 1 7 8 5
certification and it should be nonencrypted.
For cats or dogs entering
India due to a change in
ownership, 30 days of
quarantine in an approved
quarantine facility in the
originating country is
required. All pets
entering into India with
their owners must be
issued a no objection
certificate (NOC) from the
Animal Quarantine Station
in India whether accompanied
or unaccompanied,
prior to entering
India. The NOC must be
applied for in person by
the owner, owner's
representative or an
agent.
Vaccination a must
Importantly, the pet cat or dog
must be vaccinated for rabies
between 30 days and 12 months prior
to entry. Dogs must be vaccinated
against Distemper, Hepatitis,
Par vovirus, Leptospirosis and
Parainfluenza and for cats it is Feline